Device for bending steel mesh for reinforced concrete and the like



Feb. 4, 1964 H. WEBERS ETAL DEVICE FOR BENDING STEEL MESH FOR REINFORCED Filed April 18, 1961 CONCRETE AND THE LIKE x x" "11' 17 M g Q 9 10 FIG-i2 I i 2b /0 n? W 3 F763 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVENTOP5 He/hz IVA-B5425 Heir/Z K FEHER gag/fer M4 YE)? A TfOAMEY Feb. 4, 1964 H. WEBERS ETAL DEVICE FOR BENDING STEEL MESH FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE AND THE LIKE Filed April 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P76. 4 F/G.5

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' lNVE/VRZPS file/k2 WEBE/PS Heinz A/PFHEP h a/ferfi/Ayfi? United States Patent Cfitice 3,120,257, Patented Feb. 4, 1954 3,129,257 DEVECE FOR BENDING STEEL MESH FQR RE- INFQRQED CGN AND THE LEE Heinz Weber's, Dusseldorf-@herkassel, Heinz Kreher,

Dusseldorf, and Walter Mayer, Neu-Bornsen, Krers Lauenburg, Germany, assignors to hau-fl'tahigewebe,

G.m.b.H., flusseldorf-flberlmssel, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Apr. 18, 1%1, Ser. No. 103,920 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 23, 196d 12 Claims. (Cl. 153-15) The present invention relates to means for bending steel mesh consisting of intersecting sets of spaced rods welded or otherwise joined at their intersection points, more particularly, though not limitatively, to a steel mesh bending device for use in connection with reinforced concrete construction for bending pr fabricated mesh stock into the required shape on the site of the work.

It is already known to bend steel mesh for use in reinforced concrete into a desired frame or three-dimensional shape or structure in an efiort to avoid the costly and laborious joining operations in producing the reinforcing structures to conform with the work at hand in utilizing rod-shaped component elements connected by a multiplicity of joining operations.

The method and devices heretofore known and used in reinforced concrete construction work for the bending of reinforcing steel mesh have the disadvantage, among other drawbacks, that with each change from one to another bending direction or operation, it is necessary to return the bending tool, or parts thereof, to the normal or rest position, to remove the partly bent mesh structure, and to reinsert the same into the device before carrying out the next bending operation. This renders the operation both cumbersome and time consuming, not to mention the increased labor and costs involved. Similar operations are required for the removal of the completed or finally bent mesh structures from the tool. Furthermore, in using the known devices, the maximum bending angle of the rods of the reinforcing mesh is limited to about 135.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is the provision of an improved steel mesh bend ng device, especially for use in connection with reinforced concrete construction, which will allow of the attainment of a maximum bending angle of 180 of the rods of the mesh in the finally bent position or completed structure.

Among the remaining objects of the invention is the provision of a concrete reinforcing or the like steel mesh ending device of the type referred to suitable for use directly on the site of the work by which the foregoing and related dificulties and drawbacks of the known bending tools are substantially eliminated; which will enable the multiple bending of prefabricated mesh stock into practically all the required shapes or structures encountered in reinforced concrete work efiiciently and expeditiously; which will be suitable for the bending of steel mesh consisting of rods of varying diameter including the maximum rod diameters encountered in practice; which will eliminate laborious and time-consuming adjusting operations and manipulations; which is both simple in design as well as easy to operate; and which will enable a multiple-bent concrete reinforcing structure to be produced expeditiously and economically on the site of the work.

The invention, both :as to its ancillary objects as well as novel aspects, will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a steel mesh bending device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device shown by FIGS. 1 and 2;

FEGS. 4, 5 and 6 are partial sectional views illustrating successive operating positions in performing a bending operation throughout a full operating range of the device shown in the preceding figures; and

FIGS. 7 to 11 show cross-sections of various three-dimensional reinforcing mesh structures realizable by the use or" a device according to the invention.

Lie reference numerals denote like par-ts throughout the different views of the draw ngs.

With the foregoing objects in view, the improved bending device according to the invention, in its preferred embodiment, involves generally the provision of a support for positioning a steel mesh to be bent and a bending plate or the like tool member having an edge adjoining an edge of and being normally flush with the surface of said support in the non-use or inoperative position of the device, said plate being fitted with a plurality of aligned comb-like bending dies transversely projecting therefrom adjacent to its joining edge with said support and being mutually spaced by distances conforming with the spacing distance or the rods of the mesh to be bent. Said dies are further provided with suitable bayonet-like lateral recesses to allow of the insertion and positioning of the rods of said mesh. Said plate is further provided with operat ing means to rotate the same about an anis coincident with the aligning axis of said dies, in such a manner as to cause the rods of said mesh positioned in said recesses to be firmly gripped and bent around the outer surface of the dies by said plate upon rotation of the latter in a direction towards said support and through a desired operating or bending angle within a full 180 operating range. In order to facilitate and expedite the operation, the bending plate or the like tool member may be fitted with an operating lever or handle to provide an adequate leverage effect and to enable the bending of rods of the largest diameter encountered in practical reinforced concrete construction work.

According to an improved feature of the invention, the multiple bending dies each serving for the bending of one of the rods of a mesh being operated on may be fitted to or mounted upon an exchangeable and/or adjustable base plate or support, in such a manner as to allow of an instant and easy exchange of the dies suitable for different rod diameters, or for adapting the device for use in connection with mesh of varying rod distances, or to suit any other practical conditions or operating requirements.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown, by way of example, a steel mesh bending device or tool according to the invention in its normal or inoperative position and comprising a supporting plate shown in the form of a rectangular supporting beam 1 for positioning thereon a mesh to be bent, said beam being mounted upon a pair of pedestals or the like supports lit. The numeral 2 indicates the tool member proper shown in the form of a beam of L-shaped crosssection with its first (horizontal) part arranged adjoining and being flush with the upper surface of the beam or support 1 and with its second (vertical) part closely adjoining one side of said beam or support in the normal position shown. The beam 2 is rotatably mounted about a lengthwise axis for effecting a mesh bending operation, in a manner to be described in greater detail presently.

in the embodiment shown, the bending beam or plate 2 has its vertical part fitted with a removable mounting plate 3 by means of a pair of screws or bolts 7 or in any other suitable manner, said plate being fitted or provided at both its upper and lower edges with a multiplicity of spectively, to form a comb-like structure, said dies being spaced by distances equal to the spacing distances between adjacent rods 9 or 9, respectively, of the mesh to be bent by the device. Such a multiple die structure will enable the ready insertion and positioning of the mesh 9, 9" without requiring operation of the device between open and closed positions, to which end the dies 4 and 4 are provided with lateral bayonet-like recesses, to facilitate the insertion of the rods of the mesh and their final positioning by a slight lateral shift, in a manner of a bayonet joint or engagement, and shown more clearly in'F'IG. 1.

. More specifically, in the example illustrated the dies or bending elements 4 and 4 consist of leg-shaped members v transverse to the plate 2 and terminating in the dies or bending members proper 4 and 4 extending in a direction parallel to the adjoining edges of the beam 3 and the support 1. The dies are advantageously of a cylindrical shape conforming to the bending or corner radii ofthe mesh structure in the bent position determined, among others, by the diameter of the rods of the mesh. For practical purposes, the dimension of the recesses receiving the rods 9 in both the lengthwise and crosswise direction is slightly greater than the diameter of the rods, to facilitate the insertion and locating of the mesh, in a manner readily understood.

The common aligning axis xx of the dies 4 is advan tageously parallel to and above the common adjoining edge of the support 1 and beam 2 or plate 3, respectively. The beam 2 is arranged for rotation about an axis coincident with-the die axis xx by means of an operating lever or handle 8 being journalled in the supports It? at 1% and operably connected with the beam 2 through cranks 2a and-2b,- or through any other suitable operating means.

In operation, after insertion and positioning of a mesh 9, 9 by first allowing the dies to protrude through the open spaces between the rods 9 and '9 and thereafter laterally shifting the mesh such as to cause the rods to be inserted in the claws or recesses of the dies 4, in the manner shown in FIG. 1, the beam 2'is operated in counterclockwise direction to the desired bending angle by rotation of either or both of the operating handles 8, whereby the claw-shaped dies 4 about which the rods 9 are bent by the upperpart of the beam 2, result in a gripping or clamping effect such as to prevent slippage of the rods and to cause the bending thereof to the proper angle by closely conforming to the contours of the dies, positively and securely as will be readily understood.

FIGS. 4 to 6 further illustrate the steps in efiecting a bending operation by the device according to the invention, FIG. 4 relating to the starting position after insertion and positioning of a mesh in the manner described, FIG. 5 showing the position upon reaching a bending angle of 90, and FIG. 6 showing the position of the tool with a maximumbending angle of about 195. In the latter case, after release of the bending tool or return of the device to the starting position, FIG. 1, the bent mesh will be :relaxed such as to give somewhat due to the elasticity or spring action of the material, in such a manner as to result in a final permanent bending angle of 180. Suchl80 bends are required in the formation of the customary hooks provided at .the ends of the rods in reinforced concrete structu'res,.such as shown in FIG. 9.

If an operation as described is to be followed by subsequent bending operations, the mesh 9, 9' may be advanced to the next operating position after rotation of the operating handle 8 in clockwise direction to the starting position, FIG. 4, whereby the dies 4 will act as guides for the rods 9 during the adjusting operation. The bending tool may then again be operated to the desired angle to effect a subsequent bending operation. If the advance or" the mesh is obstructed by one of the cross-rods 9, the mesh is shifted laterally to release the rods 9 from the dies4, lifted briefly and advanced'and reinserted in the die structure for adjustment to the subsequent bending or operating position. In a similar manner bending of the mesh may be efiected in the opposite (clockwise) direction by the proper construction of the bending tool, in a manner readily understood.

FIGS. 7 to 11 are examples of cross-sections'of various three-dimensional mesh structures obtainable by the use of a bending device according to the invention. The basket-like shapes according to FIGS. 7 and 8 are especially suited for use as inserts in ribbed concrete slabs, While the closed structure according to PEG. 9 may serve as insert for columns or the like and FIG. 10 shows an insert'suitable for use with T-shaped beams or slabs. Finally, FIG. 11 shows an insert suitable for use in a sup porting beam, retaining wall,--foundation or the like structure having a cantilever type lateral projection. V

In the preferred embodiment of the bending .tool of the invention as shown by the drawings, the plate 3 supporting the bending dies or elements 4 and .4 is removably connected to the tool member or beam 2 by means of the screws 7 and, besides, may be rotated about a central pin or pivot 6. This makes it possible to interchange the dies 4 and 4 by removing the screws 7 and rotating the plate 2 through an angle of about its pivot 6. Rotation of the plate 3 may be carried out in the horizontalposition, FIG. 5, since normally the distance between the pivot o and ground or another supporting surface of the device is less than one half of the length of the. plate 3. After the latter has again been firmly secured in place, the device will be ready for renewed operation with the bending dies4 in operative position. The latter may have a diflFerent spacing and/ or may be designed for use with different mesh stock, .to extend the usefulness and effectiveness of the device. 4

On the other hand, the use of a plate 3 provided with sets of dies 4 and 4' of like design and spacing distance has the advantage that in case of damage of the dies of one of the sets, the other set may be used with a minimum of interruption of the operation of the device. Furthermore, a number of interchangeable plates 3 fitted with difierently' constructed and/ or spaced bending die's may be held in reserve for use when required, to furtherim crease the flexibilityand usefulness of the device and to suit any practical operating conditions and requirements.

According to an alternative embodiment, the plate i supporting the dies 4 and 4' may consist of a plurality of juxtaposed component plates or elements of reduced length each being separately removably and rotatably mounted upon the beam 2 in the manner shown, or by any other suitable mounting means. This, for instance, assuming the provision of component plates with the die spacing distances on one side being equal to 50 mm. and with the die spacing distances on the opposite side being equal to 75 mm., rotation of alternate plates will result in groups or" spacing distances of 75-50-45 or 5075 50, respectively. It is furthermore possible to bend mesh with a device of this type wherein the spacing varies between multiples of 50 arid 75 mm., as will be readily understOod;

i Finally, instead of or in addition to varying the spacing! distance between the dies, the diameter of the latter may be varied for the dies upon the different sides of a single plate or the diameter variation may be from plate to plate, to produce varying corner or bending radii in the completed :mesh structure, or for any other purpose. Besides, the spacing distance between adjacent dies may be varied in conformity with the varying spacing distance of the mesh to be bent, or the diameters of the' dies or recesses thereof receiving the rods of the mesh of a multiple die assembly may be varied in any suitable manner or combination, to suit any type of mesh to be bent or structures to be produced by a multiple bending operation.

According to a further embodiment, the dies 4 and 4 of a single plate. 3 may be individually exchangeable, such as by mounting the same in recesses of said plate by means of securing or mounting screws, or by any other means known to those skilled in the art.

There is thus provided by the invention a steel mesh bending device, especially for use in connection with re inforced concrete construction work, which is characterized by great constructional simplicity as well as flexibility or adaptability to the most varied requirements in practical reinforced concrete construction operations.

In the foregoing the invention has been described with reference to a specific illustrative device. It will be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those shown herein for illustration, may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

Ve claim:

1. A device for bending steel mesh consisting of intersecting sets of spaced rods, especially for use in reinforced concrete construction, comprising a support for positioning thereon a mesh to be bent, a bending tool member arranged with an edge thereof parallel to and adjoining an edge of said support, a plurality of aligned bending dies in mutually spaced relation upon said member conforming to the rod spacing intervals of said mesh, said dies projecting transversely from the edge of said member adjoining said support with the aligning axis thereof sub stantially parallel to said edge, said dies being provided with bayonet-like lateral recesses adapted to receive and position the rods of said mesh, and means upon said support rotatably supporting said member about an axis coincident with the aligning axis of said dies.

2. A steel mesh bending device as claimed in claim 1, said dies having a cylindrical cross-section conforming to the corner radii of the mesh in the bent position.

3. A device for bending steel mesh consisting of intersecting sets of spaced rods, especially for use in reinforced concrete construction, comprising a support for positioning thereon a mesh to be bent, a bending plate of rectangular cross-section arranged with an edge thereof parallel to and adjoining an edge of said support, said plate being normally substantially flush with said support in the inoperative position of said device, a plurality of aligned bending dies in mutually spaced relation upon said plate conforming with the rod spacing intervals of said mesh, said dies projecting transversely from the edge of said plate with the aligning axis thereof substantially parallel to the adjoining edges of said support and said plate, said dies being provided with bayonet-like lateral recesses adapted to receive and position the rods of said mesh, and means upon said support rotatably supporting sm'd plate about an axis coincident with the aligning axis of said dies, whereby to clamp said rods against and to bend the same around said dies by rotation of said plate.

4. A device for bending steel mesh consisting of intersecting sets of spaced rods, especially for use in reinforced concrete construction, comprising a support for position ing thereon a mesh to be bent, a bending plate arranged with an edge thereof parallel to and adjoining an edge of said support and being substantially flush with the surface of said support in the normal inoperative position of said device, a plurality of aligned bending elements in mutually spaced relation upon said plate conforming with the spacing intervals of said rods, each of said elements comprising a leg member projecting from said plate adjacent to its edge adjoining said support and a die member extending transversely from said leg member in the direction substantially parallel to the adjoining edges of said plate and said support, to provide bayonet-like recesses by said leg and die members for the insertion and positioning of the rods of said mesh to be bent, and means upon said support rotatably supporting said plate about an axis coincident with the aligning axis of said die members of said bending elements, whereby to clamp said rods against and to bend the same around said die members by rotation of said plate.

5. A device for bending steel mesh as claimed in claim 4, said die members being of cylindrical cross-section conforming to the corner radii of the mesh in the bent position.

6. A device for bending steel mesh as claimed in claim 4, the recesses formed by said leg and die members of said bending elements having a dimension in both lengthwise and crosswise direction being slightly in excess of the rod diameter of the mesh to be bent.

7. A device for bending steel mesh consisting of intersecting sets of spaced rods, especially for use in reinforced concrete construction, comprising a supporting beam of rectangular cross-section for positioning thereon a mesh to be bent, an L-shaped bending beam comprising two plate-like parts at right angle to one another and arranged one of said parts normally adjoining a side of said supporting beam and with the remaining part being substantially flush with the adjacent side of said supporting beam in the normal inoperative position of said device, a plurality of fligned bending elements in mutually spaced relation upon said bending beam conforming to the spacing intervals of said rods, each of said elements comprising a leg member projecting transversely from said second part of said bending beam adjacent to the adjoining edges of said supporting and said bending beams and a die member extending transversely from said leg member in a direction substantially parallel to said adjoining edges, to provide bayonet-like recesses by said leg and die members for the insertion and positioning of the rods of the mesh to be bent, said die members being aligned along a common axis parallel to said adjoining edges, and means upon said support rotatably supporting said bending beam about an axis coincident with the aligning axis of said die members, whereby to clamp the rods of said mesh against and to bend the same about said die members by rotation of said bending beam.

8. A steel mesh bending device as claimed in claim 7, said die members having a cylindrical cross-section conforming to the corner radii of the mesh in the bent position, and the aligning axis of said die members substantially coinciding with the common adjoining surface of said supporting and bending beams in the normal position of said device.

9. A steel mesh bending device as claimed in claim 7, including at least one supporting plate carrying said bending elements and removably connected to said bending beam.

10. A steel mesh bending device as claimed in claim 7, including at least one supporting plate carrying a first set of bending elements at one edge thereof and provided with a second set of bending elements upon its opposite edge, and means adjustably connecting said plate to said bending beam for selective use of either of said sets of bending dies.

11. A steel mesh bending device as claimed in claim 7, including at least one supporting plate carrying a first set of bending elements upon one edge thereof and provided with a second set of bending elements upon its opposite edge, and means rotatably adjustably connecting said sup porting plate to said bending beam for selective use of either of said sets of bending elements.

12. A device for bending steel mesh consisting of sets of intersecting spaced and parallel rods, especially for use in reinforced concrete construction, comprising a horizontal supporting plate for positioning thereon a mesh to be bent, a bending plate normally flush with said supporting plate and arranged with an edge thereof adjoining an edge of said supporting plate, a plurality of aligned bend ing dies spaced at distances equal to the spacing distances of the rods of said mesh to be bent and connected to and projecting from the edge of one of said plates substan- 81 tially symmetrically with the adjoining edges of said plates; References Cited in theme of this patent said dies provided with "lateral bayonet-like recesses UNITED T PATENTS adapted to receive and position the rods of saidmesh to 482 617 Green p 20 1949 e 1v' y is bent, and meal s n rd with said suppor mg plate m 2,554,350 7 Vinas y 1951 eludingan operating lever arm rotatably supporting said 5 bending plate about an axis coincident with the aligning FOREIGN PATENTS axis of said dies, whereby to clamp said rods against and to bend the same around said dies by rotation of said 612,909 France 19726 bending plate.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0 3,120,257 February 4 1964 Heinz Webers et alo It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent reqiiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant line 2 and in the heading to the printed specification, line 5, for "Neu=Dornsen", each occurrence read Neu-Bornsen --a Signed and sealed this 28th day of Jul 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ESTON G. JOHNSON Attesting Officer 

1. A DEVICE FOR BENDING STEEL MESH CONSISTING OF INTERSECTING SETS OF SPACED RODS, ESPECIALLY FOR USE IN REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING A SUPPORT FOR POSITIONING THEREON A MESH TO BENT, A BENDING TOOL MEMBER ARRANGED WITH AN EDGE THEREOF PARALLEL TO AND ADJOINING AN EDGE OF SAID SUPPORT, A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED BENDING DIES IN MUTUALLY SPACED RELATION UPON SAID MEMBER CONFORMING TO THE ROD SPACING INTERVALS OF SAID MESH, SAID DIES 